Jun
19
A review of Tuesday, June 15, 2010
I woke up at 3:30 a.m. to get ready for our big day in Machu Picchu town. We met in the lobby of the Andina Hotel at 4:30 to walk to the bus stop. We all waited at the bus stop until about 6 a.m. when we were allowed to board the bus that would take us to Machu Picchu.
It was amazing to see Machu Picchu early in the morning before everyone else. We also saw the sunrise.
I’m so glad I pushed myself to climb Wayna Picchu even though I am scared of heights and even though it was physically exhausting. I'm also proud of all my traveling buddies for climbing to the top! We all helped each other climb to the top by encouraging and waiting for each other.
It took me about 45 minutes, the average time, to climb to the top of Wayna Picchu. I spent about 45 minutes on top of Wayna Picchu relaxing, taking pictures and absorbing it all in. Boomer Sooner!
I met two Tri Delta sisters from Baylor and Emery, so of course we threw up the Delta in the Inca ruins! Here I am with Laura, a graduate of Baylor University.
After eating and catching our breath, we walked around Machu Picchu for about 2 hours!
There are few things like seeing the sun come up at Machu Picchu and later enjoying the sunshine after a long hike up a mountain.
After all the Wayna Picchu and Machu Picchu fun, Rafael and his wife showed us to the “baños termales,” hot baths in Machu Picchu town, also known as Aguas Calientes.
Our interesting dinner experience that lasted about 3 hours from taking our orders to paying for the meals.
I woke up at 3:30 a.m. to get ready for our big day in Machu Picchu town. We met in the lobby of the Andina Hotel at 4:30 to walk to the bus stop.
We all waited at the bus stop until about 6 a.m. when we were allowed to board the bus that would take us to Machu Picchu. When we got to the Machu Picchu site, it was still dark, and we waited in line to show our ticket and ID. Only 400 (200 for the earlier shift, and 200 for the later shift) people are allowed to climb Wayna Picchu. When we got our stamps for Wayna Picchu, we were about the 100th, but we were about the 10th people that day to climb because some people in front of us waited later to climb.
The climb was beautiful because the sun was rising, but it was one of the hardest, most physical things I’ve done in college. I played volleyball and tennis in high school, but I haven’t been working out. I also haven’t climbed a mountain.
It took me about 45 minutes, the average time, to climb to the top of Wayna Picchu. I spent about 45 minutes on top of Wayna Picchu relaxing, taking pictures and absorbing it all in.
I’m so glad I pushed myself to climb Wayna Picchu even though I am scared of heights and even though it was physically exhausting. I’m also proud of all my traveling buddies for climbing to the top! We all helped each other climb to the top by encouraging and waiting for each other.
Rafael carried some of the girls’ things because they were getting heavy. He stayed at the back of the trail to make sure everyone was safe.
Our tour guide, Saúl, has climbed Wayna Picchu about 15 times. His fastest time is 9 minutes. I’d like to think he’s this quick because he’s a descendent of the Incas. 😀
We all took a lunch break at the café at the entrance of Machu Picchu. The food prices were outrageous since tourists are more likely willing to pay high prices. For example, a bottle of water cost 8 soles when it normally costs about 2 soles in a neighborhood store. I ordered a chicken sandwich combo that included passion fruit juice and soft-serve ice cream. YUM!
After eating and catching our breath, we walked around Machu Picchu for about 2 hours! There are few things like seeing the sun come up at Machu Picchu and later enjoying the sunshine after a long hike up a mountain.
I met two Tri Delta sisters from Baylor and Emery, so of course we threw up the Delta in the Inca ruins!
After all the Wayna Picchu and Machu Picchu fun, Rafael and his wife showed us to the “baños termales,” hot baths in Machu Picchu town, also known as Aguas Calientes.
I was not very impressed with the hot baths because I pictured more natural thermal hot springs. This was more like giant man-made Jacuzzis. I’m still glad I went to know what it was like.
Jenny, Andy and I left the hot baths early to walk around Machu Picchu town. Andy and Jenny used an Internet café while I wrote postcards.
I mailed the postcards, then Jenny and I explore the Machu Picchu market and walked around the neighborhood.
We all met later that night to have dinner. The dinner experience was something different. The man at the front of the restaurant told us we could order anything off the menu for 20 soles with drink (Pisco sour, lemonade or tea) included. We made sure he was telling the truth because we fell for “free drinks” before in Lima.
The food was tasty for the most part, and the man kept his promise, but it took us about an hour to get our free drinks and water. Then it took about another hour to get our food.
The most absurd part of dinner was that the restaurant only had one young lady working as cook, cashier and hostess while the man continued to stand at the entrance asking people to come in. It was obvious this restaurant could not handle more customers.
The hostess/cook/cashier came in and out of the restaurant several times carrying groceries after she took our order. It was as if the restaurant didn’t have the ingredients even though they invited us in and took our orders.
The most frustrating part was that the hostess said we couldn’t pay separately although she said we could at the beginning. After she understood that we couldn’t pay unless we paid separately, she asked us all to write down what we ate because she couldn’t remember. I’m not sure why this mattered when everyone’s meals cost 20 soles as promised.
After we wrote our meals down on torn pieces of paper, she said she had to go next door to swipe the charge cards. Why did she have to use another business’ charge machine when the man said the restaurant accepts charge cards, and the entrance displayed Visa signs?
After about 30 minutes of waiting for our cards, change and receipts, a child came into the restaurant holding Ashley’s debit card. This frustrated Ashley because the young girl was running around with her only source of money. What if the young girl lost the debit card?
Because the charge machine next door had so much trouble, everyone borrowed money from each other to pay in cash. The young lady then said everyone’s meals cost 22 soles instead of 20 soles because tax was not included.
The dinner lasted about 3 hours from taking our orders to paying for the meals.
After that fiasco, we all returned to our hotels to sleep.
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